Two years have passed since Google startled the world with its free, online, high-resolution mapping products of the world. Foreign governments expressed their shock and concern about such detailed imagery in the hands of the general populace; their facilities and state secrets exposed to the world. “Today, with the advent of civilian satellites here and abroad, we have opened wide the window on places and events that, not so long ago, only spies could see,” writes Sharon Weinberger.
As the initial shock wore off, five main responses to the “Google threat” emerged from nations around the world: negotiations with Google, banning Google products, developing a similar product, taking evasive measures, and nonchalance. This report discusses foreign reporting and government response to the online mapping revolution after the initial brouhaha.
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